A CUT ABOVE THE REST

Sashaying back onto the Brooklyn scene after a five-continent world tour, tonight House of Diehl kicks off a brand new session of its epic Style Wars. Like a furiously sped-up Project Runway, local gorilla designers go head to head in a cutthroat, ripped seam battle, given only minutes to transform recycled material and everyday objects into haute couture before it’s modeled on the runway. Think tearing and tacking more than sewing and measuring. With the mantra “F*ck Ready-to-Wear! Get Ready to Rumble!,” the contest is adamant about its mission to provide opportunities to the creative grassroots fashionistas who most deserve a stage but rarely have the funds to promote their designs within a hyper-exclusive industry. The audience selects a winner, many of whom have gone on to land major deals after winning this democratic battle.

Wed., Aug. 13, 8:30 p.m., 2014